At least 71 pilots were grounded this year for various reasons, including being found tipsy, with about half of them belonging to no-frill carriers SpiceJet and IndiGo, Rajya Sabha was informed today.

19 pilots of SpiceJet and 16 of IndiGo were grounded by aviation regulator DGCA on two counts — testing positive in pre-flight breathalyser tests and being responsible for some incidents involving flight operation.

The grounded pilot count for other airlines due to the same reasons was 11 each for Air India and Jet Airways, two each for Air India Charters and Alliance Air and one each for GoAir and JetLite.

Of the total 71 pilots grounded, a total of 24 were punished for being found positive for breathalyser tests, 39 for incidents and eight for lapsed pilot licence, according to the data given by Civil Aviation Minister Ashok Gajapathi Raju in reply to a written question.